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U.S., Russia, France call for `decisive steps' to settle NK conflict

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  • U.S., Russia, France call for `decisive steps' to settle NK conflict

    NZ Week, New Zealand
    Dec 10 2012

    U.S., Russia, France call for `decisive steps' to settle
    Nagorno-Karabakh conflict


    Souce:Xinhua Publish By Thomas Whittle

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 - Senior officials of the United States, Russia and
    France on Friday urged Azerbaijan and Armenia to take `decisive steps'
    to settle their conflict over Nagorno- Karabakh.

    The fresh appeal came from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
    Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and France's Minister Delegate
    for European Affairs Bernard Cazeneuve, as they attended a ministerial
    meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
    (OSCE) in Dublin, Ireland to discuss proposals to strengthen the
    group's capacity to promote comprehensive security in Eurasia.

    `We again urge the parties to take decisive steps to reach a peaceful
    settlement,' the trio said in a joint statement, whose countries
    co-chair the Minsk Group of the OSCE which has been mediating the
    conflict.

    They alleged that the parties have `too often' sought one-sided
    advantage in the negotiation process, rather than seeking to find
    agreement based upon mutual understanding.

    `While recognizing the decrease in serious incidents along the Line of
    Contact and the border in recent months, we remind the parties of the
    need to continue to respect the ceasefire of 1994, and that the use of
    military force will not resolve the conflict,' they cautioned. `We
    urge the parties to refrain from actions and statements that foster
    feelings of enmity among their populations and have raised tensions in
    recent months.'

    Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been controlled by
    Armenian troops and ethnic forces since a separatist war broke out in
    1988. The two South Caucasus countries signed a cease-fire agreement
    in 1994 but skirmishes break out time and again despite repeated
    mediation by the OSCE Minsk Group.

    `We call upon the parties to demonstrate a greater sense of urgency in
    the peace process and to work with the co-chairs to give full and
    careful consideration to ideas presented by the co- chairs during
    their trip to the region in November,' the three ministers said.

    They welcomed the readiness of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and
    Armenia to meet jointly with the co-chairs early in 2013 to continue
    discussions over the conflict.

    `Our countries continue to stand ready to do whatever we can to assist
    the parties, but the responsibility for putting an end to the
    Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains with them,' they added.

    http://www.nzweek.com/world/u-s-russia-france-call-for-decisive-steps-to-settle-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-35636/




    From: A. Papazian
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